A Taste of Home

Union Hall, located in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y., hosts a constant stream of promotions, but its latest one is tapping into a very hot trend.

General manager Kevin Avanzato announced a home brew contest where home brewers bring in their beers each quarter to be judged by a panel of media, brew masters and beer enthusiasts. The tasting takes place one Tuesday each quarter, with the finals determining a winner next August.

The winners each quarter receive prizes such as home brewing kits, while the overall winning beer will be brewed at Brooklyn’s Sixpoint brewery.

“It’s created a fraternal order of sorts,” laughs Avanzato. “We call it the Knights of Bruklyn Home Brewers Sentry. Each quarter we see about 16 brewers entering.”

The bar’s relationship with Sixpoint made the brewery an obvious choice to support the contest, and Sixpoint’s brewers bring in a special cask to serve to patrons during the event. Another Brooklyn brewer, Kelso, also has been involved.

“The cask provided by Sixpoint gives the participants and the guests something special,” Avanzato adds. “Last time we had 100 people. We don’t charge a cover, and that’s pretty much at capacity for us.”